It’s that time of year again, conference championship time. And the University of Georgia is right where they should be – playing the heathens from the West in Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the SEC Championship. Downtown Atlanta will be awash in red and black and some kind of off red color called “crimson.” Bars and restaurants will be packed and hotels booked.
Considering one half of the fan base for the game lives within an hour or so of the stadium however, the hotels might not be as booked up as they could be. A lot of Atlanta hotel employees probably turn into Gator or Gamecock fans for at least a little while in October. Hotels in the immediate downtown area will booked solid but rooms further away, such as Buckhead or the Perimeter, will not see much impact from the game. Still though, the economic impact of the game will be huge.
Even if you don’t have tickets for the big game, there is still plenty to do and draw in fans to Atlanta. The SEC Coaches Luncheon will feature Alabama Coach Nick Saban and UGA Coach Kirby Smart, who will preview the game for the $45 per ticket attendees – although considering the notoriously tight-lipped coaches involved, “preview” might be a strong word. The luncheon will also feature SEC Championship Game Triva, videos from the season, and door prizes.
The Dr. Pepper ™ SEC Fanfare, now in its 27th year, attracts some 40,000 fans for games and celebration for two days prior to the big game. Admission is a mere $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 12 – compared to ticket prices for the game of at least $249 (but even that was only one left).
The event also offers attendees a chance to rub elbows with UGA and SEC luminaries like Hines Ward, Lindsay Scott or Phil Fulmer (your humble correspondent met a man named Bo Jackson there as a child and has never forgotten it). There are also pep rallies for each team, one of which features the famous Redcoat Marching Band on Saturday at 1:45.
The economic impact of all this, as reported by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, is estimated at more than one billion dollars since 1999 and the annual impact is estimated at nearly $40 million. The game is currently contracted to remain in Atlanta through at least 2026, with options to extend – ensuring UGA fans a number of more years before they have to travel any further.
The game’s widespread national coverage is also some “free” advertising for Atlanta and its ability to host big events. With the Super Bowl coming to town not too long thereafter, the next couple months will be the biggest for football in Atlanta in a long time – particularly so if Saturday’s game turns out a certain way.
Worth a mention is another event happening this weekend right next door to the game. While it won’t quite be quite the spectacle of Gay Pride Weekend coinciding with the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game, Elton John will be playing at State Farm Arena on Saturday night. The concert starts at 8:00 so the game might be over by then, and if all goes well for Bulldog fans, a quote from Sir Elton:
“Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
‘Cause Saturday night’s the night I like
Saturday night’s alright alright alright”
